Notice is hereby given of events scheduled for Wednesday 21st October 2015, with which the Society is associated and at which it will be represented. All members are welcome (and encouraged) to attend.

Newcastle upon Tyne

Venue

St Nicholas Cathedral (Collingwood memorial at the back of the Church)

Time

0945 for 1000

Event

Annual short service of commemoration, organised by the Lord Mayor’s Office and the Cathedral

Info

Light refreshments afterwards

Tynemouth

Venue

Collinwood Monument

Time

1130

Event

‘Toast the Admiral 2015’ event, organised by North Tyneside Council

Info

Wylam grog available here, oration to be given by CO HMS COLLINGWOOD, flag-raising by MSTS, light refreshments afterwards in the refurbished TVLB

Morpeth

Venue

Town Hall, then Collingwood House (Oldgate)

Time

1120 for 1130 at the Town Hall, then 1150 for 1200 at Collingwood House

Event

‘Collingwood Toast 2015’, organised by Morpeth Town Council

Info

Flowers will be laid at the bust of Lord Collingwood to begin with, followed by proceedings at Collingwood House, Morpeth grog available at this one!

London

Venue

St. Paul’s Cathedral (adjacent to Nelson’s / Collingwood’s tombs)

Time

1045 for 1100

Event

Annual wreath-laying and short service of commemoration

Info

Long-established event, representation by London and south of England based members of the Society

204 years ago today, Admiral Cuthbert Collingwood died off Port Mahon, on board of HMS Ville de Paris. Here’s what the “Annals of the Wars of the 19th Century. Vol. III” had to say on the matter. I find the comparison of Nelson and Collingwood to Saul and Jonathan most intriguing…!

You can read an extensive extract by clicking on the picture below.

Today’s picture can be shared with you thanks to the generosity of our dearest Volgivagant; who of us would not have loved to sail on the good ship “Collingwood” – with a figurehead like this?

In honour of our dear admiral – and his beloved Bounce! – we’ve made a donation to rescue four dogs from Romania, who are already on their way to new, loving homes.

Vice Admiral Cuthbert Collingwood, 1st Baron Collingwood, died on 7th March, 1810 at the age of 61. Unfortunately, we couldn’t visit St. Paul’s Cathedral today as I’ve just started a new job, but be assured that “Old Cuddy” wasn’t deprieved of his annual gift of flowers. A very lovely flowerbox with red roses and berries, not unlike the one from last year, was placed on his tomb.

So rather than paying my respects in person, I’ll do so in writing. I won’t talk about naval battle strategies or politics, though. When asked why I took such an interest in some old admiral who died a gazillion of years ago, I usually say: “People with common sense never go out of fashion.” Collingwood was born in 1748, but had a more modern approach to many things and better understanding of human nature than a good number of people nowadays.

On 17 April, 1809, Collingwood wrote a letter to his daughters while aboard his ship, the Ville de Paris, anchored off Minorca. I dare say that we’d all live in a much better world if some of the advice he gave his girls was headed today. Actually, I petition for his pieces of advice to be printed on a 4x20ft banner and put up in the Houses of Parliament. I suggest neon pink vinyl, so that really nobody can miss it.

The education of a lady, and indeed of a gentleman too, may be divided into three parts; all of great importance to their happiness, but in different degrees.

The first part ist the cultivation of the mind, that they may have a knowledge of right and wrong, and acquire a habit of doing acts of virtue and honour. By reading history, you will perceive the high estimation in wihch the memories of good and virtuous people are held; the contempt and disgust which are affixed to the base, whatever may have been their rank in life.

The second part of education is to acquire a competent knowledge how to manage your affairs, whatever they may happen to be; to know how to direct the economy of your house; and to keep exact accounts of every thing which concerns you. Whoever cannot do this must be dependent on somebody else, and those who are dependent on another cannot be perfectly at their ease. (…)

The third part is, perhaps, no less in value than the others. It is how to practise those manners and that address which will recommend you to the respect of strangers. Boldness and forwardness are exceedingly disgusting, and such people are generally more disliked the more they are known; but, at the same time, shyness and bashfulness, and the shrinking from conversation with those with whom you ought to associate, are repulsive and unbecoming.

This quote was taken from the excellent book “The Five Hundred Best English Letters”, selected and edited by The First Earl of Birkenhead, first published in 1931. I’d like to thank Esteven for the many hours of enjoyment I spent reading it.

St. Paul’s was very busy on 7 March; the usual mixture of schoolkids (mostly bored) and tourists (mostly with bored kids). I can feel with them; when I was first dragged to St. Paul’s, I also was very grumpy with my teacher, because I wanted to go shopping, for crying out loud, not spend the afternoon in a church! Well, we get older and (mostly) wiser. I overheard a funny conversation between two lads of about 14 years of age. They had to answer questions on a worksheet and set up camp right behind us. One said he wanted a “thing” like Nelson’s sarcophagus, but a cooler version, with flames spray-painted on the sides!

Admiral Collingwood’s sarcophagus probably doesn’t inspire such elaborately customised copies; you can’t even see his name unless you walk up the steps and read the inscription. We laid the flowers and held a minute of silence.

Still working my way through the mailbox. I’ll eventually reply to everybody, thanks for your patience.

More links are trickling in. I hope I can apply my google-fu more effectively this weekend, I’m sure there’s more. If you’ve been to any of the last weekend’s events and want to share your thoughts, impressions and/or pictures, please do so! You’re more than welcome. I’d also like to thank all the regulars here who helped me so much with their comments and links.

… flowers were laid at Admiral Lord Collingwood’s tomb, which can be found in the crypt of St. Paul’s cathedral. Pictures were taken with permission of St. Paul’s and are used here with permission of the photographers.

We’d like to thank staff at St. Paul’s for their help and hope to make this a (bi-)annual event. While Admiral Lord Collingwood probably would have shaken his head about the general idea of fuss being made about him, we feel it’s very important to keep his memory and the values he stood for alive.

Tourists made a beeline for the admiral’s tomb as soon as they noticed the flowers. “London Guides” were pulled out and consulted in considerable numbers!

Also, donations to various charities have been made in honour of “Old Cuddy”.